Player to watch: OF Jeffrey Hammonds. Hit .305 in 33 games as rookie last year, will start in right field this season.

Outlook: Spent $45 million in winter for free agents, hoping for first trip to postseason since 1983. The oft-injured Fernandez came down with tendinitis in spring training and is out indefinitely. Experimented in exhibition games with shifting LF Brady Anderson to center and CF Mike Devereaux to right, but went back to original plan. SS Cal Ripken moving closer to Lou Gehrig's record of 2,130 consecutive games, on target to break the mark in June 1995.

Player to watch: P Aaron Sele. Was 7-2 as a rookie, Red Sox eager to see how he'll do in second season.

Outlook: Nixon's signing showed a new commitment to speed, and Red Sox ran wild in spring training. Boston needs Roger Clemens to rebound from his worst season and could use more than 13 home runs from Andre Dawson and Mike Greenwell, who locked up a contract extension. 1B Mo Vaughn was most fearsome slugger in spring training.

Player to watch: Carlos Delgado. A hard-hitting catcher in the minors, may start the season in left field at age 21.

Outlook: Hoping to become the first three-time World Series champions since 1972-73-74 Oakland. Made no major additions in the off-season, but still trying to acquire Bret Saberhagen from the Mets. Counting on rookie SS Alex Gonzalez and Delgado. May start season without World Series hero RF Joe Carter, who broke thumb when hit by pitch in spring.